Appointments

Information to Consider Before Booking An Appointment

Like virtually all other GP surgeries across the UK, we are experiencing record demand for appointments. However, many patients do not realise that there are other NHS services that can directly address their health concerns without needing to go through the surgery.

In order to ensure that you are contacting the service best placed to address your health concerns, we ask that you read the information on our Accessing the Right Services for Your Needs page.

If you are uncertain whether to book an appointment with the surgery or contact a different service, please speak with one of our Reception team who are trained to help navigate you to the right service.

How to book an appointment

When you contact us, we will ask you some questions about your health concern. This information allows us to navigate you to the best health professional to help you. We may also refer you to other services that are better placed to provide the care you need.

Urgent appointments (same day or within 3 working days)

To book an urgent appointment (either same day or within the next 3 working days), you can either:

  • phone us on 01531 825925, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm; or
  • visit the surgery and speak with one of our Reception team, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm.

Please do not submit an online query to request an urgent appointment as it will not be reviewed immediately.

The urgency of appointments is based on clinical need; if your concern is deemed not to be clinically urgent, you may be offered a routine appointment instead. This is to help us ensure we can provide enough urgent appointments for patients who need them.

Routine appointments

To book a routine appointment, you can either:

  • submit an online request;
  • phone us on 01531 825925, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm; or
  • visit the surgery and speak with one of our Reception team, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm.

Out-of-hours appointments

If you would prefer an appointment outside of our normal opening hours, we are able to book these for you (subject to availability). Please request this when booking your appointment. For more information about out-of-hours appointments, visit our Taurus Healthcare – 24/7 GP Access page.

Group Consultations

We are also excited to announce that we have started a new service providing diabetic group clinics, please see this short video explaining how these work and the benefits they offer

Group Consultations (also known as Shared Medical Appointments) are organised meetings comprising of 10 to 15 patients with the same condition or set of clinical problems, coming together in a supportive group setting. This is a more personalised way of supporting patients with long term medical conditions and allows patients to learn from each other as well as from clinicians.

Which health professional should I see?

In addition to GPs, we employ a variety of qualified health professionals who are trained to provide different types of care. When requesting an appointment, you will be booked with the health professional best placed to help you.

Below is a list of some of the health professionals who work with us, along with the types of appointments they are able to provide.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and Physician Associates come from a variety of backgrounds. They work under the guidance of a GP to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of new and ongoing health concerns based on their specific background and training. At our practice, you may see an ACP or Physician Associate for:

– Urgent health issues (such as potential infections)
– New or ongoing health concerns
Clinical Pharmacists are highly qualified experts in medicines. They work as part of the general practice team to improve outcomes from medicines and consult with and treat patients directly. At our practice, you may see a Clinical Pharmacist for:

– Medication advice (such as side effects, interactions and dose adjustments)
– Medication initiation discussions for certain conditions, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure
– Medication reviews
A General Practitioner (GP) is a qualified doctor who has specialised in general practice. They use a holistic approach to assess, diagnose and treat a wide variety of health issues, particularly for patients with more complex problems or backgrounds. They may also have areas of special interest, where they’ve undertaken additional training in specific fields. At our practice, you may see a GP for:

– New or ongoing complex health concerns, such as cancer reviews, patients with multiple health issues and patients with severe frailty
– Clinics for areas of special interest, such as women’s health and minor surgery
– Palliative and end-of-life care

Many of our GPs are also responsible for managing the health of patients in our local care homes, where they conduct regular care home rounds.
Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) support the practice nursing team in the delivery of nursing services. They play a vital role in preventative care, health promotion and patient education. At our practice, you may see an HCA for:

– Blood pressure checks
– Blood tests
– Dressings (simple)
– Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
– Height, weight and lifestyle checks
– Swabs (skin, ear, mouth and nose)
First Contact Physiotherapists are physiotherapists with enhanced skills who can assess, diagnose and advise on management of new musculoskeletal issues. They can also refer you to a local service for ongoing physiotherapy when this is needed. At our practice, you may see a First Contact Physiotherapist for:

– Soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries 
– Arthritis (any joint) 
– Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone, such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains 
– Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain 
– Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, such as pins and needles or numbness 
– Changes to walking
Practice Nurses are responsible for the delivery of practice nursing services, including health promotion and chronic disease management. They usually specialise in one or more areas of chronic disease management, such as asthma, COPD or diabetes. At our practice, you may see a Practice Nurse for:

– Asthma, COPD and diabetes reviews
– Injections and immunisations
– Smear tests
– Swabs (vaginal)
– Travel health advice
– Wound management and dressings (complex)
Social Prescribers connect people to non-medical community-based activities, groups and services that meet practical, social and emotional needs, including specialist advice services and the arts, physical activity and nature. At our practice, you may see a Social Prescriber for:

– Support to identify and connect with community activities to improve health and combat loneliness
– Guidance to services that can provide financial advice and support
– Assistance with accessing social care support
Ledbury Health Partnership is proud to be a training practice (under the oversight of Dr Flewers). This means that we frequently have trainees working with us, such as GP trainees, Foundation Year doctors, and students from various healthcare fields.

Trainees always work under the supervision of the appropriate qualified health professional. If you would prefer not to see a trainee or have one present during your appointment, please let us know when booking your appointment.

Appointments that can be booked online

Many appointments can now be booked directly online using either your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or your Patient Access account. These appointments include:

  • Asthma annual reviews
  • COPD annual reviews
  • Blood tests (if we have requested this)
  • Contraceptive Pill checks
  • Smear tests (for patients who have received a letter)

Please only book one of these appointments online if you are eligible or have been asked to do so; otherwise, your appointment may be cancelled.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App);
  • use your Patient Access account;
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message;
  • phone us on 01531 825925, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm, or;
  • We now offer a new automated ‘check and cancel’ service on our telephone system. Allowing patients to check the dates and times of their upcoming appointments, and cancel them if they are no longer needed, call our main number 01531 825 925 and select option one. You need to be calling from the telephone number that we have on your medical record (landline or mobile), and this system does not allow you to book new appointments.

If you need help when we are closed

For advice regarding non-emergency issues, use NHS 111 online or call 111. Please note that NHS 111 online is for patients aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Chaperones

Patients may feel more comfortable to have a third party present during an appointment; for example, during a personal examination. If you would like someone to accompany you during your appointment, please let the Reception team know when you arrive for your appointment.

Interpreters

If you are a non-English speaker, we are able to access telephone interpreters to translate during your appointment. At the time of booking your appointment, please advise the Reception team that you require an interpreter so one can be arranged.

Home visits

If you are housebound and we determine that you need to be seen face-to-face, we will make arrangements to do so. This may involve one of our clinicians visiting you at home or referring you to the Community Advanced Clinical Practitioner team or District Nursing team as appropriate.

Please telephone the surgery on 01531 825925 if you believe you may need a home visit. It is best to ring before 11am so that there is time for arrangements to be made as needed.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond.
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email.
  • if you need an interpreter.
  • if you have any other access or communication needs.